Instructional Strategies

Classroom Scenario

A third grader says, “I was really scared when I came to this new school for the first time. I bet that’s how the immigrants felt when they came to America.”

A fifth grader asks, “How many peer conferences should we hold for our ecosystem report? I’ve already finished my K-W-L chart and am ready to get some ideas before I get started.”

A seventh grader announces, “Can we meet with our groups for part of the period today? I’m having trouble changing fractions to percents, and I think they can help me figure it out.”

An eleventh grader suggests, “I think I’ve got my biome newsletter for the Community Night all ready to go. I want to add two more graphics, and then I’ll be ready to share my work!”

In a classroom where a variety of instructional strategies are present every day, students are deeply engaged, challenged, and learn at high levels. The teachers in these classrooms see the benefits of using these strategies to put their students in charge of their own learning.

Multiple Instructional Strategies for Engaged Learning

Instructional strategies that engage students and involve them in the learning process are at the heart of what great teachers do. Research shows that certain strategies help students achieve success and learn at higher levels.

Prior Knowledge >
Learn about the importance of tapping students’ prior knowledge to help students construct new understanding.

Graphic Organizers >
Find out about graphic organizers and how to effectively use them in the classroom.

Cooperative Learning >
Learn about different cooperative learning strategies and see how to embed them throughout the instructional cycle.

Feedback >
Understand how teacher and peer feedback encourages student learning and can be integrated in everyday teaching.

Recognition >
Find out how recognition affirms students for the work they have created and supports their learning.

Questioning >
Read about different questioning techniques, including the Socratic Method of Questioning and view some examples.

Modeling >
See how teacher modeling can be a useful and effective strategy to demonstrate a new skill or concept.

Managing Technology >
Discover how to overcome technology obstacles and how to use technology resources to their fullest.